Spike Lee’s acclaimed concert film of David Byrne’s ‘American Utopia’ returns to cinemas on August 5 for a single night, newly restored in 4K, marking 5 years since it first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Tickets go on sale June 18 here.
Directed by Lee using 11 camera operators, the film captures Byrne’s Broadway production of the same name, which ran at New York’s Hudson Theatre from October 2019 to February 2020. Choreographed by Annie-B Parson, the show featured Byrne and an 11-person ensemble performing barefoot in sharp grey suits, with no amps or microphones visible on stage, drawing from both his solo catalog and Talking Heads classics including “Once in a Lifetime” and “Burning Down the House.”
The production also featured a performance of Janelle Monáe’s “Hell You Talmbout,” with the ensemble calling out the names of Black Americans killed through racial violence and police brutality, giving the show a political weight that matched its theatrical ambition.
NME gave the film 5 stars, calling it “New York’s finest teaming up for a greatest hits extravaganza that doubles as one of 2020’s best films.” The tour that preceded the Broadway run earned the same outlet’s verdict of “the most ambitious and impressive live show of all time,” a quote Byrne subsequently used as the title of a live EP.